Hot Topics
Survey Reports
January 16, 1997
A PARTISAN PUBLIC AGENDA
Questionnaire
PEW RESEARCH CENTER FOR THE PEOPLE AND THE PRESS
JANUARY 1997 NEWS INTEREST INDEX
-- FINAL TOPLINE --
January 9 - 12, 1997
N=1,503
Hello, I am _____ calling for Princeton Survey Research Associates
in Princeton, New Jersey. We are conducting a telephone opinion
survey for leading newspapers and TV stations around the country.
I'd like to ask a few questions of the youngest male, 18 years of
age or older, who is now at home. [IF NO MALE, ASK: May I please
speak with the oldest female, 18 years of age or older, who is now
at home?]
Q.1 Do you approve or disapprove of the way Bill Clinton is
handling his job as President? [IF DK ENTER AS DK. IF DEPENDS
PROBE ONCE WITH: Overall do you approve or disapprove of the
way Bill Clinton is handling his job as President? IF STILL
DEPENDS ENTER AS DK]
Approve Disapprove Don't Know
January, 1997 59 31 10=100
July, 1996 54 38 8=100
June, 1996 54 38 8=100
April, 1996 53 39 8=100
March, 1996 55 38 7=100
February, 1996 51 39 10=100
January, 1996 50 43 7=100
October, 1995 48 42 10=100
September, 1995 45 42 13=100
August, 1995 44 44 12=100
June, 1995 50 40 10=100
April, 1995 47 43 10=100
March, 1995 44 44 12=100
February, 1995 44 44 12=100
December, 1994 41 47 12=100
November, 1994 48 40 12=100
October, 1994 41 47 12=100
Early October, 1994 38 47 15=100
September, 1994 41 52 7=100
July, 1994 45 46 9=100
June, 1994 42 44 14=100
May, 1994 46 42 12=100
March, 1994 45 42 13=100
January, 1994 51 35 14=100
Early January, 1994 48 35 17=100
December, 1993 48 36 16=100
October, 1993 44 42 14=100
September, 1993 49 35 16=100
Early September, 1993 43 43 14=100
August, 1993 39 46 15=100
May, 1993 39 43 18=100
Early May, 1993 45 37 18=100
April, 1993 49 29 22=100
February, 1993 56 25 19=100
ASK Q.1a OF FORM 1 ONLY: [N = 755]
Q.1aF1 Do you approve or disapprove of the policies and
proposals of the Republican leaders in Congress? (IF
"DON'T KNOW," ENTER AS CODE 9. IF "DEPENDS," PROBE ONCE
WITH: Overall, do you approve or disapprove of the
proposals and policies of the Republican leaders in
Congress? IF STILL "DEPENDS," ENTER AS CODE 9.)
July June April March Feb Jan Oct Sept Aug June April March Dec
1996 1996 1996 1996 1996 1996 1995 1995 1995 1995 1995 1995 1994
38 Approve 38 36 39 35 33 36 36 36 38 41 44 43 52
43 Disapprove 48 50 46 51 53 54 51 50 45 45 43 39 28
19 DK/Refused 14 14 15 14 14 10 13 14 17 14 13 18 20
100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
ASK Q.1b OF FORM 2 ONLY: [N = 748]
Q.1bF2 Do you approve or disapprove of the job the Republican
leaders in Congress are doing? [IF DK ENTER AS DK. IF
DEPENDS PROBE ONCE WITH: Overall do you approve or
disapprove of the job the Republican leaders in Congress are
doing? IF STILL DEPENDS ENTER AS DK]
38 Approve
47 Disapprove
15 Don't know/Refused
100
ASK Q.2 OF FORM 1 ONLY: [N = 755]
Q.2F1 What do you think was the single most important news event
that happened in the nation or in the world in 1996? (ACCEPT
MULTIPLE RESPONSES)
53 DOMESTIC STORIES
16 Presidential campaign/Election
14 TWA Plane Crash
4 Oklahoma city bombing
3 O J Simpson Case/Trial
2 Olympic bombing
2 Ongoing Whitewater investigation
2 Summer Olympics in Atlanta
1 Welfare reform
1 Gingrich ethics violation/Investigation
1 Plane crashes (unspecified)
1 Congressional election
1 Natural disasters
1 Federal government shutdown
1 Unabomber arrest
1 Economy
6 Other
11 INTERNATIONAL STORIES
5 Sending troops to Bosnia/Ongoing conflict
2 Breakdown of Mid-East peace/Renewed conflict
1 Bombing of US Base in Saudi Arabia
1 Rabin assassination
3 Other
37 Don't know/Refused
ASK Q.2a OF FORM 2 ONLY: [N = 748]
Q.2aF2 What one word best describes your REACTION to Bill Clinton's
starting a second term in office? Tell me just the ONE best
word that describes your reaction. (ACCEPT UP TO TWO
RESPONSES)
SEE PAGE OTHER IMPORTANT FINDINGS AND ANALYSIS FOR "TOP 20" RESPONSES.
ASK ALL:
ON A DIFFERENT SUBJECT...
Q.3 All in all, are you satisfied or dissatisfied with the way things are
going in this country today?
Early
July March Oct April July Mar Oct Sept June Jan Jan Nov May Feb May Jan
1996 1996 1995 1995 1994 1994 1993 1993 1993 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1988
38 Satisfied 29 28 23 23 24 24 22 20 22 39 28 34 41 45 41 39
58 Dissatisfied 67 70 73 74 73 71 73 75 71 50 68 61 54 50 54 55
4 No Opinion 4 2 4 3 3 5 5 4 7 11 4 5 5 5 5 6
100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
Q.3a Please tell me how much you agree or disagree with the
following statement... Most people in this country are
trustworthy. Would you say you completely agree, mostly agree,
mostly DISagree, or completely disagree?
3 Completely agree
54 Mostly agree
33 Mostly disagree
8 Completely disagree
2 Don't know/Refused
100
Q.4 Now I will read a list of some stories covered by news
organizations this past month. As I read each item, tell me
if you happened to follow this news story very closely, fairly
closely, not too closely, or not at all closely? [READ AND
ROTATE LIST]
SPLIT FORM ITEMS AS INDICATED: FORM 1 [N = 755]; FORM 2 [N=748]
Very Fairly Not too Not at all VOL
Closely Closely Closely Closely DK
a.F1 Protests and demonstrations in
Belgrade against Serbian President
Milosevic 7 14 29 49 1=100
December, 1996 10 16 24 49 1=100
b. Charges of improper campaign
contributions to the Democrats
by Indonesian business interests 17 29 26 28 *=100
December, 1996 22 26 22 30 *=100
c. Bill Clinton's cabinet choices
and other high level appointments
for his second term 15 32 30 23 *=100
January, 1993 24 42 22 11 1=100
d. Charges that Newt Gingrich
violated House ethics rules 23 35 22 19 1=100
e.F2 The hostage crisis at the
Japanese Embassy in Peru 14 37 24 24 1=100
f.F1 Floods in the Pacific Northwest 34 37 14 14 1=100
g. The controversy over treating
black English, or Ebonics, as
a second language in school 22 34 22 21 1=100
h. The new ratings system for
television programs 13 33 27 26 1=100
i.F2 Renewed tensions between Israelis
and Palestinians over Hebron 12 23 29 35 1=100
May, 1988 18 37 34 9 2=100
j. The discussion and debate
about expanding NATO into
Eastern Europe 5 15 32 47 1=100
k. Proposals to reform the Social
Security system 29 35 22 13 1=100
ON ANOTHER SUBJECT...
Q.5 Right now, which is more important for President Clinton to
focus on... domestic policy or foreign policy?
Dec Oct
1994 1993
86 Domestic policy 85 76
7 Foreign policy 7 13
* Neither (VOL) 2 *
5 Both (VOL) 4 7
2 Don't know/Refused 2 4
100 100 100
Q.6 Now a few questions about priorities for President Clinton and
the new Congress this year. As I read from a list tell me if
you think the item that I read should be a priority. First...
should (READ AND ROTATE) be a top priority, important but
lower priority, not too important, or should it not be done?
SPLIT FORM ITEMS a.-n. AS INDICATED: FORM 1 [N = 755]; FORM 2
[N=748]
Important Should
Top But lower Not too Not be DK/
Priority Priority Important Done Ref
a.F1 Improving the job situation 66 26 5 2 1=100
December, 1994 64 27 5 2 2=100
b.F2 Reforming health care 56 32 7 4 1=100
December, 1994 54 27 9 7 3=100
c.F1 Cutting the capital gains tax 29 38 17 8 8=100
December, 1994 27 38 16 7 12=100
d.F2 Reducing crime 70 25 3 2 *=100
December, 1994 78 17 2 1 2=100
e.F1 Reducing the budget deficit 60 30 5 2 3=100
December, 1994 65 26 5 1 3=100
f.F2 Reducing federal income
taxes for the middle class 42 38 10 8 2=100
December, 1994 53 32 9 3 3=100
g.F1 Reforming the campaign
finance system 31 37 23 5 4=100
h.F2 Improving the
educational system 75 20 3 2 *=100
i.F1 Taking steps to make the
Social Security system
financially sound 75 20 2 2 1=100
j.F2 Taking steps to make the
Medicare system
financially sound 64 31 3 1 1=100
k.F1 Working to reduce
racial tensions 50 34 9 5 2=100
l.F2 Dealing with the problems of
poor and needy people 57 35 6 2 *=100
m.F1 Protecting the environment 54 35 8 2 1=100
n.F2 Dealing with the moral
breakdown in the country 52 29 10 6 3=100
Q.7 Now I'd like your views on some people and things in the news.
As I read from a list, please tell me which category best
describes your overall opinion of who or what I name.
(First,) would you say your overall opinion of... (INSERT
ITEM. ROTATE a-f; THEN ROTATE g-j) is very favorable, mostly
favorable, mostly UNfavorable, or very unfavorable?
(INTERVIEWERS: PROBE TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN "NEVER HEARD OF"
AND "CAN'T RATE")
Very Mostly Mostly Very Never
Favor- Favor- Unfavor- Unfavor- Heard Can't
able able able able Of Rate
a. Bill Clinton 17 49 18 14 * 2=100
RV-October, 1996 12 45 22 19 0 2=100
June, 1996 16 45 23 14 * 2=100
April, 1996 16 41 24 16 0 3=100
February, 1996 20 35 22 21 0 2=100
January, 1996 13 43 27 15 0 2=100
August, 1995 13 36 29 20 0 2=100
February, 1995 14 41 25 17 0 3=100
December, 1994 17 34 24 22 0 3=100
July, 1994 15 43 25 16 * 1=100
May, 1993 18 42 23 12 0 5=100
July, 1992 17 42 25 9 0 7=100
June, 1992 10 36 33 14 1 6=100
May, 1992 11 42 32 10 * 5=100
March, 1992 10 43 29 11 1 6=100
February, 1992 15 44 24 7 2 8=100
January, 1992 9 28 11 4 27 21=100
November, 1991 5 25 8 2 39 21=100
b. Hillary Clinton 17 40 23 17 * 3=100
June, 1996 13 40 26 17 * 4=100
April, 1996 12 37 27 19 0 5=100
February, 1996 14 28 27 27 0 4=100
January, 1996 10 32 28 26 0 4=100
October, 1995 14 44 24 14 - 4=100
August, 1995 16 33 25 22 * 4=100
July, 1994 19 38 22 18 1 2=100
May, 1993 19 41 18 11 1 10=100
c. Newt Gingrich 4 24 39 26 2 5=100
August, 1995 9 21 29 25 4 12=100
February, 1995 12 29 22 15 10 12=100
December, 1994 7 18 15 13 30 17=100
July, 1994 2 12 8 4 65 9=100
d. Al Gore 18 47 21 8 1 5=100
July, 1994 18 49 19 7 2 5=100
August, 1992 22 44 15 5 2 12=100
July, 1992 15 32 14 5 6 28=100
September, 1987 6 23 11 3 23 34=100
e. Secretary of State
designate, Madeleine
Albright 13 44 12 4 9 18=100
February, 1995 2 16 11 5 47 19=100
f. Treasury Secretary,
Robert Rubin 5 38 14 3 18 22=100
g. Congress 6 50 32 8 * 4=100
June, 1996 6 39 38 12 * 5=100
April, 1996 6 39 37 13 0 5=100
January, 1996 4 38 38 16 * 4=100
October, 1995 4 38 42 13 0 3=100
August, 1995 5 40 34 13 * 7=100
June, 1995 8 45 31 11 * 5=100
February, 1995 10 44 27 10 0 9=100
July, 1994 7 46 34 9 * 4=100
May, 1993 8 35 35 13 0 9=100
November, 1991 7 44 34 9 0 6=100
May, 1990 6 53 25 9 1 6=100
May, 1988 8 56 23 5 0 8=100
January, 1988 6 58 25 4 0 7=100
May, 1987 10 64 16 4 * 6=100
January, 1987 7 52 23 8 0 10=100
June, 1985 9 58 21 5 * 7=100
h. The Democratic Party 13 47 28 7 * 5=100
October, 1995 9 40 37 11 - 3=100
July, 1994 13 49 27 7 * 4=100
May, 1993 14 43 25 9 0 9=100
July, 1992 17 44 24 9 * 6=100
i. The Republican Party 8 44 33 10 * 5=100
October, 1995 10 42 28 16 * 4=100
July, 1994 12 51 25 8 * 4=100
May, 1993 12 42 25 10 0 11=100
July, 1992 9 37 31 17 * 6=100
j. NATO 9 44 23 8 3 13=100
June, 1995 8 53 18 7 4 10=100
ON ANOTHER SUBJECT...
Q.12 Overall, how much trust and confidence do you have in your
STATE government to do a good job in carrying out its
responsibilities... a great deal, a fair amount, not very
much, or none at all?
------- Gallup -------
June June June April May
1992 1987 1976 1974 1972
17 A great deal 5 11 13 16 15
53 A fair amount 46 62 59 59 48
23 Not very much 36 19 19 17 27
6 None at all 8 4 7 3 6
1 Don't know/Refused -- GO TO Q.14 5 4 2 5 4
100 100 100 100 100 100
Q.13 Do you say that you have (INSERT RESPONSE FROM Q.12; FOR '4'
NONE AT ALL, INSERT 'NO' AND OMIT 'OF') of trust and
confidence in your state government to do a good job in
carrying out its responsibilities mainly because of what
you've heard or read OR because of things you've personally
experienced?
58 Heard/read
29 Personally experienced
11 Both (VOL)
2 Don't know/Refused
100
ASK ALL:
Q.14 In which level of government -- federal, state or local -- do
you have the most trust and confidence to handle each of the
following problems most effectively... (READ AND ROTATE)?
VOL VOL
Federal State Local All None DK
a. Provide services to immigrants 62 19 11 1 2 5=100
Gallup: May, 1990 60 15 6 2 7 11=100
b. Provide job training 20 45 30 1 2 2=100
Gallup: May, 1990 24 37 23 2 6 8=100
c. Provide EARLY education
to low income children 25 39 32 1 1 2=100
d. Provide health care for the
disabled, poor and elderly 44 36 15 1 2 2=100
Gallup: May, 1990 36 28 18 3 10 5=100
e. Fight crime 24 26 42 4 2 2=100
f. Establish rules on who can
receive welfare or public
assistance for poor people 28 44 23 1 1 3=100
g. Protect civil rights 59 21 13 2 2 3=100
NO QUESTION 15
NOW A FEW QUESTIONS ABOUT TELEVISION...
Q.16 What would you say bothers you more: the amount of violence
on TV or the amount of sex on TV?
Feb
1993
43 Violence 37
24 Sex 30
24 Both equally (VOL) 25
8 Neither (VOL) --
1 Don't know/Refused 8
100 100
Q.17 How do you feel about the amount of violence portrayed on
television programs today, not including news programs? Do
you think there is too much violence, a reasonable amount, or
very little violence?
Feb Harris
1993 1971
75 Too much violence 72 71
21 A reasonable amount 25 24
2 Very little violence 2 3
2 Don't know/Refused 1 2
100 100 100
Q.18 As you may know, the television industry recently adopted a
new ratings system for television programs. How well do you
feel you understand this new ratings system... very well,
fairly well, just somewhat well, or not very well at all?
21 Very well
30 Fairly well
20 Just somewhat well
27 Not very well at all
2 Don't know/Refused
100
Q.19 Since this new system has been in place, have you yourself
seen the rating for a specific show while watching television,
OR have you not noticed ratings on any of the shows you've
been watching?
42 Yes, have seen ratings
54 No, haven't seen ratings
3 Don't watch TV/Don't have a TV (VOL)
1 Don't know/Refused
100
Q.20 How helpful do you think the new ratings system will be in
helping parents decide which television shows their children
should be allowed to watch... will it be very helpful,
somewhat helpful, not too helpful or not at all helpful?
27 Very helpful
42 Somewhat helpful
18 Not too helpful
9 Not at all helpful
4 Don't know/Refused
100
Q.21 Are you the parent or guardian of any children under 18 now
living in your household?
ASK Q.21a-Q.25 OF PARENTS ONLY (Q.21=1):
36 Yes -- GO TO Q.21a
How many of those children are between the ages of 14 and 17?
How many of those children are between the ages of 8 and 13?
How many of those children are between the ages of 5 and 7?
How many of those children are under the age of 5?
64 No -- GO TO Q.26
0 Don't know/Refused -- GO TO Q.26
100
Q.22-25 BASED ON PARENTS: N = 552
Q.22 When your (child watches/children watch) TV, how often do you
watch WITH (him or her/them)... usually, about half the time,
only sometimes, or hardly ever?
9 Always (VOL)
35 Usually
31 Half the time
16 Sometimes
8 Hardly ever/Never
1 Don't know/Refused
100
(N=552)
Q.23 When your (child is watching/children are watching) TV and
you're NOT with (him or her/them), about how often do you know
WHAT (he or she is/they are) watching... usually, about half
the time, only sometimes, or hardly ever?
18 Always (VOL)
55 Usually
13 Half the time
9 Sometimes
4 Hardly ever/Never
1 Don't know/Refused
100
(N = 552)
Q.24 Does your family have specific rules about which times of day
your (child/children) can watch TV and which times of day (he
or she/they) can't?
46 Yes
53 No
1 Don't know/Refused
100
(N = 552)
Q.25 How concerned are you that your (child is/children are) being
exposed to too much (INSERT ITEM; ROTATE) in the TV shows (he
or she watches/they watch)... a great deal, somewhat, not too
much, or not at all? (N = 552)
Great Some- Not too Not at all
Deal what much concerned DK
a. Violent content 54 26 11 9 *=100
b. Sexual content 54 25 11 10 *=100
c. Adult language 51 27 13 9 *=100
ASK ALL:
ON ANOTHER SUBJECT...
ROTATE Q.26/27 AND Q.28
Q.26 As you may know, the Democratic National Campaign Committee
received campaign contributions which came indirectly from
foreign sources in Indonesia. Do you think this is an
important issue or not important?
W. Post
Dec 1996
70 Important 68
26 Not important 29
4 Don't know/Refused 3
100 100
Q.27 Do you think a special committee should be set up in Congress
to investigate these charges, or not?
Based on Voters
Nov 1996
63 Yes 54
33 No 42
4 Don't know/Refused 4
100 100
Q.28 As you may know, Speaker Newt Gingrich recently admitted that
he violated House rules by giving false statements to the
House Ethics Committee about his use of tax deductible
contributions. Do you think this is an important issue or not
important?
79 Important
18 Not important
3 Don't know/Refused
100
Q.29 Which would you say is more important, the investigation into
the Democratic campaign contributions from foreign sources OR
the investigation into charges against Newt Gingrich?
39 DNC contributions
36 Gingrich activities
18 Both equally important (VOL)
7 Don't know/Refused
100
Next >>
Table of Contents
- Questionnaire